The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-01

reCltatlO0 IN concert. Every tone
and gesture was in complete harmony,
the rss and lsll of the ten voices being
singularly perfect. Miss Mary Calvin,
thoroughly at ease, and with fac re-
gard for the sniIit OF the competition,
recited "a Voice in the Twilight "
The orchestra sgain came into reQusi-
ton, discoursipg stirring and sweat
selection. "Mammon Wor ship"
and its disastrous results to the nobler
and higher qualities of either man or
woman. was fully developed by Mics
Julia Fizer in a we'll written essay.
Her composition WAS widely com.
plimented az evincing deep AID we'll
matured Thought. Miss Lille Hume
recitod EBAY Billy" thrilling war
story, with fervor aud feeling ''Fes.
iival March" by the chorus, immedi-
ately preceded the vsledlctory by
Miss Euphsn Collier. The gifted and
charming young lady, in we'll modu-
lated voice, full of music, and with a
manner Of perfect composure, read the
following paper:
VALEDICT0RY.
II is great compliment to us, of which
we are mindful, tha; so many intelligent
people of Mem his are here to al shit; here to
greet us at the threshold of our parting.
say, we feel co uplimented that you have
come to join with us in these exercises; and,
since nine young, girls have preceded me,
sha detain you but .ew moments to say
s0meth ng OF onr ANA mater, tho public
schools of Memphis g, from whose doors wo go
ready. / trust for the coming con-
test of life. These years she has kept
us in the foli we know and accept
as but the preface to the history OF oar
human lives-the cradle song of youth and
hope to the great anthem of maturer years
With their respo usi ilities and requ rements.
This system OF pubic schools is the ground
work OF our American Government-gOvern
ment with the consent of tho governed; and
just as we progress in individual Intelligence
SO the world ut large prospers.
In no schools of the country do these indi-
vidualities have the same opportunity to as
sert themselves as in the public sch lols,
where all stand upon an equal ba,is of what,
ever m,rit they possess, uninauencod by
wealth or position. To use homely simile,
" we all paddle our own canoes" There
are no elfins from Golconda to steer
tS;,SoL them eetwGRn ,Rn soylls and charySdis,
drilt when the tide is difficult
to stem. How sacredly, then, should we
guard an interest 30 dear to the hearts of
o; every American citizen. In these sch OILS
political and rel gious d ifferences are leveled
by the friendship of the playground, aud
the generous rivalry of the classroom And
though these ties grow less strong when we
separate for the broader paths OF Ii Q, Yet
they serve to bind us in oser relations as
citizens, while they sweeten the communion
by c0rnmOn tie and q common sympathy.
And right here, desire for my classmates,
as well as for myself, to thqnk you, gentle
men of the board, for that sustain.
intATa,I ehnwn In ba
welfare of the schools. to which we
now point with just pride and admi ration.
To the superintendent and oul beloved in
strqctors who have so ably ana thoroughly
ful0ess, mindful of debt we do not under
take to repay.
A word to my classmates and | will have
done, l am sure you are touched by the
thought that we are brought t0get 7er, in all
probability, for the last time as school girls;
but the recollect ous of the past. sweetened
By the bright sunshine of approving smiles
and presence, will mako us forget the dleet-
ing shadow. We feel that We are near the
fulness have rested their force; that
the anchor has been grouu ded in
a safe harbor from which there
will bs no dragging, blow the gales OF ad-
this meta : hor symboiias tho steadisst@ness% mes of of
our aims and purposes, so that when trials,
and sorrows come to us our i'm
movable faith shall hod us steadfast till
those fairer gales of life's sweetest lulling
shall come as the land breeze from the Para
disc of the immortals.
Another selection by the orchestra,
and President Collier, with no cere.
mony but the calling of names, award
ed the diplomas, the class sang "Good
Night" and at 9:40 o'clock the curtain
descended, As the orchestra began
its introduction to the last number q
portion of the audience commenced
a movement toward the door. 1t cre-
ated such commotion that the rich
and musical notes of the orchestra
and yocalists would have been COM
pletely lost to those who desired to
hear but for the decided action OF
Capt. Collier. MotioniIR the musi-
clans to silence, and the chorus to
their seats he announced that the ex.
erciees would not proceed until order
was restored. The effect was like
magic. Those who had risen resumed
their seats, talking was hushed, and
all was still. Waiting moment to
determine that the state was not OF the
kind, he gave the command
10 procee ;, and within five minutes
the commencement exercises of 1887
were at an end. 1t was timely aud
we'll merited rebuke to a practice |
gaining too strong foothold in Men,
pbis.
The teachers who are entitled.to
credit for bringing aboIt this superior
and pleasing order OF education are
Mrs. E. J. Crockett, principal; Mics
Kate Mcmahon, Miss Louise Book,
Miss Alice O'Donnell, Mrs. Louisa NJ,
Smith and Miss Grace Lewellyn, the |
after teacher OF eloCution. Working |
n beautiful harmony with the ener. |
setic aud efficient superintendent,
hey have contributed largely toward |
,3slting the standard of the city's
public schools, and graduating pupils
n a manner which Fl ted them for the
various relations to life and society.
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